Epping: Pre-race notes

TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS AND NITRO FUNNY CARS HEADLINE AMALIE OIL NORTH
AMERICAN NATIONALS
New England Fans Will Witness the Most Competitive IHRA Season in Six
Years
NORWALK, Ohio (September 1, 2006) -- The 2006 IHRA eMax Drag Racing
Series has...

TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS AND NITRO FUNNY CARS HEADLINE AMALIE OIL NORTH
AMERICAN NATIONALS

New England Fans Will Witness the Most Competitive IHRA Season in Six
Years

NORWALK, Ohio (September 1, 2006) -- The 2006 IHRA eMax Drag Racing
Series has been the most competitive seasons in years. By the end of the
year, 2006 could prove to be the tightest in IHRA's history. Racers
will need to earn as many points as possible during the remaining four
races if they want to be in contention for the world championship. The
Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge
Dealers, September 8 -- 10, the first of those four races, could be
the pivotal event for many drivers.

Going back to 2000, IHRA has crowned 27 professional world champions. Of
those points chases, only three times has the championship been won by
fewer than 40 points:

"It's just good competition. Everyone is capable of running
fast, however some guys have set-ups that are better at certain
tracks," said current Torco Nitro Funny Car points leader Dale
Creasy Jr., who is in the midst of the first championship chase of his
career. "The ladder system IHRA uses gives a lot of parity in the
classes. It makes it harder for the race cars, which actually makes for
better racing. In the end, it's better for the fans."

In 2006, IHRA instituted a ladder system which places the No. 1 qualifier
versus the No. 5 qualifier in an 8-car field, or No. 9 in a 16-car field.
This was in place of the traditional ladder system which rewards the top
qualifier by racing the lowest qualified cars early in eliminations (No.
1 versus No. 8 or No. 16).

"The ladder is structured so it creates tighter racing, a tighter
points chase, and it reduces the risk of the traditional No. 1 versus No.
16 first round blowout, which no one wants to see," said IHRA Vice
President of Racing Operations Skooter Peaco.

"The No. 1 car is now rewarded with lane choice and points, but he
doesn't get a 'gimme' in the first round," said
IHRA director of competition and technical services Mike Baker.
"This ultimately creates better racing for the fans."

Despite the tight points chase, Creasy's Torco Racing
Fuels-sponsored team won't change their race strategy. "We
are sticking with our game plan, but I would be lying if I said I
wasn't worried about the points. Every run means something. Every
run is important," said Creasy Jr., of Beecher, Ill. "If I
can qualify one or two positions higher than Jack (Wyatt, No. 2 in
points) I can gain a few points. I'm even thinking about the 15
points we lost in San Antonio when we oiled the track. I pedaled it,
stayed on the gas longer than I should have, and it pushed some oil out
onto the track. I lost points and we didn't even qualify on that
run. I won't make that mistake again."

"We now realize how important every single run is," said Top
Fuel points leader and five-time defending world champion Clay Millican,
of Drummonds, Tenn. "Every run, including qualifying, as well as
the NHRA races we do are important for us because I get to drive the car,
Mike (Kloeber, crew chief) gets to tune it, the team gets to work on it.
Every part on the car is important. We had a simple bug in the car when
we lost to Foley at Norwalk. We stayed at the track Sunday night well
past midnight to find it.

"People have gone out, found the sponsorship dollars and moved
their level of performance up. I think it's wonderful how well
everyone is running. I also think it's great the NHRA cars are
coming over and mixing it up, because for years that's what I did
to their program," added Millican, who drives the Werner
Enterprises dragster. "Do I want to win the championship? You
better believe I think about it every day. (Despite the close points
chase) we have to think the same way we always do. You can only do this
sport one run at a time.

"All this good racing is great for the fans. If we don't keep
people excited, I'll be back driving a forklift again," added
Millican.

The Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge
Dealers will be held September 8-10 at New England Dragway in Epping,
N.H. To schedule interviews, obtain media credentials or high-resolution
photos, please contact Travis Reynolds at (419) 660-4225,
travisreynolds@livenation.com or Mike Perry at (419) 660-4213,
mikeperryihra@livenation.com.

Contact New England Dragway at www.newenglanddragway.com or (603)
679-8001. The track is located at 280 Exeter Road, Epping, NH 03042.